Headteacher sends letter home after hedgehog kicked to death

Jonathan Dennett, the headteacher at Fitzharrys school in Abingdon, said the school want to 'hold the group of young people accountable for their actions' and are doing all they can to get more information which will help investigate.

What we know so far about the incident: 

• On Tuesday morning between 7am to 8am at Albert Park in Abingdon a group of four to six boys were spotted playing football with a hedgehog
• At least one of the boys was in a Fitzharrys school uniform 
• A volunteer from Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue went to save the animal, but when she arrived the boys were still kicking it
• An X-Ray at the vets showed that the animals spine had shifted, and bones could be seen sticking out of the sides 
• The hedgehog had to be put down by the volunteer vets - and experts have said it would have been in a lot of pain at the time
• The headteacher released his first statement about the incident

Headteacher Mr Dennett

Read the letter from the headteacher in full: 

"Dear students, parents and carers in the Fitzharrys community,

"I am writing to provide an update and further clarity following my letter of Wednesday 23 October.

"By now many of you will be aware of the story originating via Facebook of the alleged involvement of children who attend Fitzharrys in what is described as a horrible incident of cruelty towards an animal in Albert Park on Tuesday morning. We are taking this very seriously as a school, and are awaiting further information from Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue so that we can understand more, investigate further and take appropriate, robust action.

"As things stand and with the information we have, it does appear that at least one of the children in the group was identified as wearing the Fitzharrys uniform. We have been given the names of the two young people whose parents were contacted by Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue and they are not children who attend Fitzharrys. We continue to investigate to make sure that the group of young people can be held accountable for their actions. The actions described do not represent our values, nor the values that run through any of the schools in our town. The Oxford Mail have adapted their original story somewhat to reflect the evidence as it emerges, but the initial allegations have spurred very strong responses.

"We have invited Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue to the school to share the good work that we do with our Eco Club and our involvement in the badger conservation project with Oxford University and neighbouring primary schools. Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue have also been invited to give assemblies to promote conservation, values that are dear to the heart of our students.

"We appreciate that Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue have rightly recognised that our concern is to get to the bottom of exactly what happened and ensure that any young people involved from across the town are held to account regardless of the school they happen to attend. Sadly, incidents of this nature are far too common across the county and the country, and we will all work together to eradicate them from our community.

"We are really proud of our students and know the values and kindness that run through our school each and every day. As parents, you also know the warmth, care and compassion that your children exemplify. This incident is not who we are as a school, and we are grateful for those parents who have made that point publicly. Sadly, this incident, the hearsay and speculation and most worryingly the threatening and abusive responses that have come with it have an impact on all our children. Any alleged involvement of children who attend Fitzharrys is all the more shocking given what we know to be the strengths and ethos of our school. We appreciate the support that we have received from parents both online and through contact to the school who have highlighted to others the facts as we know them and shared their experience of what makes Fitzharrys special."